The Prevalence and Risk Factors for Potential Oral Malignant Disorders in a Middle Aged North Indian Population

INTRODUCTION: The menace of oral cancer has become a public health concern and its prevalence is increasing with every passing day, making it the sixth most common cancer across the globe. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence and risk factors for potential oral malignant  disorders in a middle aged north Indian population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This Cross-sectional study was carried out on 1260 individuals in Delhi and NCR. A questionnaire was created to record information about socio demographic traits, oral hygiene routines, threat associated to oral probable malignant disorders .The Oral Mucosal lesions were examined by professionals. Results. The Overall Prevalence of Potential oral malignant  disorders was found to be with oral submucous fibrosis (6.09%) found in a greater extent and erythroplakia (0.15%)found to be  lesser. RESULTS: It was documented that 11.48% of the Northern Indian Population which suffered from oral malignant lesions, with the prevalence rates of leukoplakia in 3.01%, Lichen Planus in 1.42% and lowest being erythroplakia in 0.15% of the subjects. The prevalence of oral malignant lesions  among males was found to be higher(12.8%) as compared to females p value <0.0001. No significant difference was found between categories of socio-economic status, tooth brushing methods ,brushing frequency with prevalence of oral malignant disorders CONCLUSION: The Study augments an interrelation between tobacco and areca nut consumption with oral probable malignant disorders. An interrelation of oral probable malignant disorders with diabetes and BMI was confirmed by this study

Don't forget the informal sector: reviving manufacturing in India

The Indian government's economic package designed to revive its manufacturing sector post-lockdown needs to help every segment of the sector, including the informal sector. Here Kannan Kumar (Researcher, India) and Aastha Sharma (Researcher, India) explain how the domestic value chains traverse the formal and informal segments of the economy, which show the need for the government’s revival policies to not forget the informal sector in its post-lockdown economic plans

UNDERSTANDING CARRIER AND ELEMENT SPECIFIC DYNAMICS IN ORGANOHALIDE PEROVSKITE BY FEMTOSECOND TABLETOP XUV SPECTROSCOPY

Hybrid organic-inorganic halide perovskites, such as methylammonium lead iodide have emerged as outstanding light absorbing and emitting materials in recent years. Quasi-2D/layered perovskites have also gained significant attention owing to enhanced ambient stability, high luminescence quantum yield and strong excitonic effects. However, our current understanding of the fundamental photophysics in these materials is limited by the overlap of spectral features in the energy ranges studied using traditional methods of time-resolved spectroscopy. Ultrafast extreme ultraviolet (XUV) absorption was used to investigate electron and hole dynamics in perovskites by observing transitions from core level (I 4d and Br 3d ) to the valence and conduction bands. Using a table-top instrument, ultrashort (30 fs) pulses of XUV radiation with a broad spectrum (40-75 eV) were generated via high-harmonic generation. Transient absorption measurements using visible pump and XUV probe directly observed carrier and element specific relaxation dynamics in mixed-halide and layered perovskites for above band edge excitation in the femtosecond and picosecond time scales

QUENCHING OF N-NITROSOPYRROLIDINE INDUCED HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA ON POST TREATMENT WITH THE HELICTERES ISORA

Objective: The present study was aimed at probing the protective potential of Helicteres isora hydroethanolic stem bark extract (HIHSBE) againstN-nitrosopyrrolidine (NPYR) induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Swiss albino male mice.Method: Mice were divided into six groups of six mice in each. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was induced by single intraperitoneal injection ofthe carcinogen nitrosopyrrolidine (NPYR). Followed by the subcutaneous injection of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Carcinogen treated mice were thenorally administered with Helicteres isora hydroethanolic stem bark extract (HIHSBE) at a dose of 100 and 200 mg/kg once daily for 4 weeks followedby investigation of liver injury markers like alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine phosphatase (ALP), gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT), Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Tumor markers alpha fetoprotein and carcinoembryonic antigen were determined in serum. Levelof catalase (CAT), reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione-s- transferase (GST) and lipid peroxidation were also estimated.Results: The level of liver injury markers and antioxidant enzymes decreased in the liver tissue of NPYR treated mice compared to normal control mice.However, HIHSBE post treatment increased the level of these enzymes compared to only carcinogen treated mice. HIHSBE also lowered the level of tumormarkers and lipid peroxidation in serum and liver tissue of mice bearing HCC respectively. Histological studies also supported biochemical investigations.Conclusion: The chemopreventive effect of HIHSBE is well supported in our study as it hinders the development of HCC by interacting with ROSduring carcinogenesis and thus counterbalancing the antioxidant defense system as analyzed.Keywords: Helicteres isora, Hepatocellular carcinoma, Liver enzymes, N-nitrosopyrrolidine, Oxidative stress

A PROSPECTIVE AND OBSERVATIONAL STUDY TO ANALYZE THE ASSOCIATION OF LIPID PROFILE ABNORMALITY WITH DISEASE SEVERITY IN SEBORRHEIC DERMATITIS PATIENTS

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the association of lipid profile abnormality and eborrheic dermatitis by analyzing the lipid profile; and to evaluate the association of lipid profile abnormality and severity of seborrheic dermatitis. Methods: This prospective and observational study was conducted in the department of dermatology in Dr. D.Y. Patil University and Hospital, School of Medicine, Navi Mumbai. The diagnosed cases of Seborrheic Dermatitis were subjected to lipid profile examination. The demographic and disease profile was then compared among the patients with normal and abnormal lipid profile. Results: A total of 30 seborrheic dermatitis patients were analyzed. Eighteen (60%) of the study participants were males. Serum triglyceride, LDL/ HDL ratio, and cholesterol total/HDL ratio were found to be significantly associated with disease severity. Conclusion: The study suggests a significant role of monitoring serum profile in the patients of seborrheic dermatitis

Prediction for the 2012 United States Presidential Election using Multiple Regression Model

This paper investigates the factors responsible for predicting 2012 U.S. Presidential election. Though contemporary discussions on Presidential election mention that unemployment rate will be a deciding factor in this election, it is found that unemployment rate is not significant for predicting the forthcoming Presidential election. Except GDP growth rate, various other economic factors like interest rate, inflation, public debt, change in oil and gold prices, budget deficit/surplus and exchange rate are also not significant for predicting the U.S. Presidential election outcome. Lewis-Beck and Rice (1982) proposed Gallup rating, obtained in June of the election year, as a significant indicator for forecasting the Presidential election. However, the present study finds that even though there exists a relationship between June Gallup rating and incumbent vote share in the Presidential election, the Gallup rating cannot be used as the sole indicator of the Presidential elections. Various other non-economic factors like scandals linked to the incumbent President and the performance of the two parties in the midterm elections are found to be significant. We study the influence of the above economic and non-economic variables on voting behavior in U.S. Presidential elections and develop a suitable regression model for predicting the 2012 U.S. Presidential election. The emergence of new non-economic factors reflects the changing dynamics of U.S. Presidential election outcomes. The proposed model forecasts that the Democrat candidate Mr. Barack Obama is likely to get a vote percentage between 51.818 % - 54.239 %, with 95% confidence interval

Prediction for the 2012 United States Presidential Election using Multiple Regression Model

This paper investigates the factors responsible for predicting 2012 U.S. Presidential election. Though contemporary discussions on Presidential election mention that unemployment rate will be a deciding factor in this election, it is found that unemployment rate is not significant for predicting the forthcoming Presidential election. Except GDP growth rate, various other economic factors like interest rate, inflation, public debt, change in oil and gold prices, budget deficit/surplus and exchange rate are also not significant for predicting the U.S. Presidential election outcome. Lewis-Beck and Rice (1982) proposed Gallup rating, obtained in June of the election year, as a significant indicator for forecasting the Presidential election. However, the present study finds that even though there exists a relationship between June Gallup rating and incumbent vote share in the Presidential election, the Gallup rating cannot be used as the sole indicator of the Presidential elections. Various other non-economic factors like scandals linked to the incumbent President and the performance of the two parties in the midterm elections are found to be significant. We study the influence of the above economic and non-economic variables on voting behavior in U.S. Presidential elections and develop a suitable regression model for predicting the 2012 U.S. Presidential election. The emergence of new non-economic factors reflects the changing dynamics of U.S. Presidential election outcomes. The proposed model forecasts that the Democrat candidate Mr. Barack Obama is likely to get a vote percentage between 51.818 % - 54.239 %, with 95% confidence interval

Vitamin D and Its Relationship with the Pathways Related to Thrombosis and Various Diseases

Vitamin D known for its vital role in diverse biological function such as calcium and phosphorus homeostasis, also exert an anticoagulant effect emphasizing its essential role in the thrombosis pathogenesis. Thrombosis is the formation and propagation of a blood clot or thrombus either in the arterial or the venous system resulting in several severe complications. Various studies have also reported the association of vitamin D deficiency with the increased incidences of thromboembolism. This may be in part due to its anticoagulant effects through upregulation of thrombomodulin, an anticoagulant glycoprotein, and downregulation of Tissue Factor, a critical coagulation factor. The protective effects of vitamin D and its receptor in endothelial cells may further explain some of the reported beneficial effects of vitamin D in the prevention or treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, the immunomodulatory role of vitamin D has been observed through its ability to alter the secretion of inflammatory cytokines that can induce a procoagulant milieu by multiple pathways. Therefore, it becomes pertinent to discuss the close link between vitamin D and human health and to improve our knowledge of the molecular pathways regulated or influenced by vitamin D and its associated metabolites

Nature and Dynamics of Gift-Giving in India: A Study of Gift-Giving Habits among Youth in Delhi

ABSTRAC

Prevalence of suicide risk and its associated factors in patients presenting in antenatal clinic

Introduction: Suicide during the antenatal period is one of the major indirect causes of maternal death. This study aims to determine the prevalence of suicidal risk and its related factors among the patients attending the antenatal clinic of a tertiary care center. Method: This is a cross-sectional study conducted in the antenatal clinic Patan Hospital, Lalitpur, Nepal among 124 pregnant patients using purposive sampling and face-to-face interviews applying a semi-structured proforma and P4 suicide screener. Ethical approval was obtained. The percentage of patients with suicide risk was calculated and stratified into minimal, lower, and higher risk of suicide. The association between suicide risk and different sociodemographic and clinical variables was done using the Chi-square test. A p-values ≤0.05 was considered statistically significant. Result: The prevalence of suicide risk was 32 out of 124 patients (25.8%). When risk stratification was done a maximum of 22(17.7%) had a higher risk for suicide. The risk was associated the employment status (p=0.039), history of previous suicide attempts (p=0.04), and diagnosed mental disorder (p=0.027). Conclusion: Our study shows the suicide risk among antenatal females was 25.8% reaffirming the need for proper screening and referral